In another thread, I mentioned getting a DK Fury for a entry level race bike.

I now see that the DK Charger is much more race ready for $100 more... I was also looking at the Redline Proline Pro...which is in the same price range as the Charger...

I like both...but the Charger comes with the Sun Rhyno lite rims....the Proline Pro comes with the Sun ZX25rims, which I was told will bend alot quicker in racing. The Redline has a threadless headset...while the DK has a cartridge headset...is either an advantage over the other? As for the rest...they seem pretty equal. The other issue is DK itself. DK did not make bikes when I raced before (25 years ago), just stems. Does a DK race bike stack up to the others?

I am trying to NOT spend any money on upgrades right now..basically want an "out of the box" race ready bike.

You might do well to talk to some guys at the track. I'm assuming you are buying locally. If not, you really should. Stores that sell and service BMX race bikes will be more helpful to you on race day with support at the track if you bought from them. Plus, upgrades, gear and hooking up with other racers will all benifit from keeping your money local. My son has a Redling Flight Pro which seems like a very good bike. Butr he's not hard on it at all, yet. He's still growing into it. Have you considered The cruiser class. It's less competitive locally, whick I prefer. More of a fun race class.

I went today and tried out a 20' and a cruiser at a bike shop. I am 5'6"...not tall at all and I feel like I have less control over a bigger bike. I didnt mind the cruiser at all...I just dont feel like I have control over it as well as a smaller bike, especially up to speed...

I will definitely buy local...there are two shops in my area that have been fairly helpful....just gotta decide on a bike now...

I went today and tried out a 20' and a cruiser at a bike shop. I am 5'6"...not tall at all and I feel like I have less control over a bigger bike. I didnt mind the cruiser at all...I just dont feel like I have control over it as well as a smaller bike, especially up to speed...

I will definitely buy local...there are two shops in my area that have been fairly helpful....just gotta decide on a bike now...

I went today and tried out a 20' and a cruiser at a bike shop. I am 5'6"...not tall at all and I feel like I have less control over a bigger bike. I didnt mind the cruiser at all...I just dont feel like I have control over it as well as a smaller bike, especially up to speed...

I will definitely buy local...there are two shops in my area that have been fairly helpful....just gotta decide on a bike now...

I'm 5'11, and I used to ride a 24" cruiser with about a 21.5 toptube, and even recommend that people just wanting to ride around and maybe race at the track buy a cruiser.

Now that I actually rode (and own) a decent 20" bike, I'd like to withdraw all of those statements and call myself an idiot for buying the cruiser. The smaller bike makes it so much simpler to do stuff, and it feels a lot more natural to do everything. I guess the bigger bikes might hold speed better, but you're pedaling almost the whole time if it's in a race anyway (I guess just riding around town they'd be fine if you like the feel of a slightly smaller bike than most MTB's)

I'm 5'11, and I used to ride a 24" cruiser with about a 21.5 toptube, and even recommend that people just wanting to ride around and maybe race at the track buy a cruiser.

Now that I actually rode (and own) a decent 20" bike, I'd like to withdraw all of those statements and call myself an idiot for buying the cruiser. The smaller bike makes it so much simpler to do stuff, and it feels a lot more natural to do everything. I guess the bigger bikes might hold speed better, but you're pedaling almost the whole time if it's in a race anyway (I guess just riding around town they'd be fine if you like the feel of a slightly smaller bike than most MTB's)

I've got a cruiser, a 20" and a stack of other bikes. There's a time and a place for everything.